Researchers from the University of Florida are developing a new technology inspired by a lobster’s sense of smell, that will be used to detect land mines and other explosives for removal in the field. Lobsters use two hairy antennules, which have neurons that give off an electrical pulse to detect and locate the source of smells.
Researchers from the University of Florida are developing a new technology inspired by a lobster’s sense of smell, that will be used to detect land mines and other explosives for removal in the field.
Lobsters use two hairy antennules, which have neurons that give off an electrical pulse to detect and locate the source of smells.
For the study, researchers analyzed information taken from the electrical pulses using a computer model that helped them understand how the lobster’s olfactory cells work.
"UF researchers studied neurons called bursting cells that continuously sends signals even when other neurons involved in smell remained quite. Computer models help determine the roles
of these newly discovered bursting neurons that may help researchers develop electronic devices to detect dangerous materials." [University of Florida]
The system of finding explosives that is currently being used requires a human to handle the electronic nose in order to identify the exact location.
But the lobster nose device will be safer because it could operate at a further distance from the human handlers.
